American Heart Association
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Building a culture of health in Orlando
Orlando is the most-visited city in the United States, with a record 68 million people traveling to the region last year. But of the 2.5 million residents who live here, one in three will die of heart disease or stroke. That’s why the American Heart Association’s mission of building healthier lives is so important in Central Florida. Programs like Kids Cook With Heart and Hard Hats With Heart target the most at-risk in our community. STEM Goes Red inspires girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. CPR in Schools policies are ensuring a future generation of lifesavers. And our signature events raise critical funds for heart disease and stroke research. But we still need your support to make Orlando a healthier community for all.
Health Measurements
Percent of adults with...
Lifestyle Risk Factors
Our community
Orlando Stroke Survivor
Secily Wilson was a well-known local TV journalist when she suffered a stroke on air. Years later, she survived another stroke. Now she’s a champion for stroke prevention and identification, encouraging others to know the signs and symptoms and act F.A.S.T.(link opens in new window) in the event of an emergency.
Kids Cook With Heart
We engage local professional chefs and registered dieticians to teach students important nutritional information, guidelines for safety and sanitation, knife skills and how to create healthy meal and snacks for themselves and their family. The students showcase their knowledge at a challenge in which they prepare a dish on their own before a panel of judges.
STEM Goes Red
In partnership with Orange County Public Schools and hosted by FIS, we're encouraging middle-school girls to pursue careers in STEM during day-long programs full of memorable interactions. STEM Goes Red features hands-on breakout sessions covering each field of STEM, a mentoring session with industry leaders, and an inspiring keynote speech.
Little Hats, Big Hearts
Little Hats, Big Hearts is a campaign, in connection with the Children's Heart Foundation, to collect knitted or crocheted red baby hats. The program raises awareness of heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans, and congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect in the country.
Because Life is Why
The American Heart Association and Life is Why sponsor Florida Hospital partner to amplify campaigns like Little Hats, Big Hearts, which raises awareness for congenital heart defects. Florida Hospital also supports heart disease and stroke prevention through improved clinical care practices, patient support networks, educational campaigns and community impact events.
Blood Pressure
Check. Change. Control.
Stress on your blood vessels from high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and other serious health threats. Use our free Check. Change. Control.™ online tool to track your readings and maintain a healthy heart!
Track Your Blood Pressure
For Professionals
Target: BP
The AHA and AMA joined forces with the launch of Target: BP™ to support physicians and care teams. We can track and maintain blood pressure goals for our patients by offering access to the latest research, tools, and resources.
Healthy For Good
You don’t need a guilt trip. We know you know. You want to be healthy... for good. And we’re here to help inspire you to create lasting change in your health and your life, one small step at a time. The approach is simple: Eat smart. Add color. Move more. Be well. Get Healthy For Good.
Closing Equity Gaps
EmPOWERED To Serve™ is a movement inspired by our multicultural volunteers around the country who are passionate about driving change through health justice in their communities. These committed ambassadors are impacting gaps in health equity through advocacy, policy, education and social change.
Focus on Quality
When medical professionals apply the most up-to-date evidence-based treatment guidelines, patient outcomes improve. That’s the simple truth behind the drive for continuous quality improvement. Our comprehensive suite of programs can help you advance farther and faster in the quest for ever-better care.
Support Network™
You are not alone. Learn from people like you, or help others who are going through an emotional time. Explore the forums, read survivor stories, seek and receive support.
Orlando Heart Ambassadors
James and Tara Fussell already had a healthy biological son when they decided to adopt their next child. Fast-forward, and the Fussell clan has grown by three – adopting Juliet, Jade and Jett from China. Juliet and Jade are CHD survivors who’ve undergone lifesaving heart surgery, and Jett is living with a secondary form of heart disease. The Fussells are using their story of hope to inspire other families facing similar challenges.
State Policy Win
To improve stroke care in the state, we fought to establish a statewide stroke registry that requires all hospitals in Florida to report their data.
Funding Local Researchers
Research is a pillar of the American Heart Association’s lifesaving mission. Over the past 10 years, we’ve awarded 20 grants totaling $2.9 million to Orlando-area researchers in the ongoing quest to understand, improve, and treat cardiovascular disease and stroke. The results will assist doctors, hospitals, and other institutions to save lives in our own backyard and across the world.
Current Research Spotlight
“The goal of our study is to determine better ways for heart doctors and surgeons to help repair the heart in babies and children born with a single chambered heart. If our results are encouraging, this new operation will have a major impact on the current treatments for this severe disorder. Within the next two to three years, this innovation may save hundreds of lives every year and help many others enjoy better heart function, brain development and quality of life.”
–William Decampli, B.S., M.D., Ph.D., University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
Visit Professional Heart Daily, A Resource for Clinicians and Scientists
CPR Trainings
Emergencies leave us feeling helpless, but they don’t have to. Take two minutes to learn Hands-Only CPR™(link opens in new window) now. 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes. When a person has a cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can double or triple their chance of survival. Prepare to save a life, find a CPR course near you today.
Why Cholesterol Matters
There are few warning signs of high cholesterol, but the impact is real. By lowering your cholesterol, you'll reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Take control today. Manage your cholesterol levels by making healthy lifestyle choices and following a sound medical treatment plan.
Across the Sunshine State, communities are building a healthier infrastructure and tackling inequities for hearts of all ages. The challenges are great, but together our future is greater.
Local Events
Greater Orlando Heart Walk
November 3, 2018
Memory Mall, University of Central Florida
Let's get Heartwalking, a movement to move more. Heart Walk is a festival of one million hearts in 300+ communities nationwide beating healthy for good. Join us in Orlando! Walk in memory of someone you love, or create a team.
Orlando Go Red For Women Luncheon
February 15, 2019
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
We "Go Red" for our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. Heart disease and stroke cause one in three deaths among women - more than all cancers combined. Let's raise awareness that 80 percent of cardiac events are preventable!
Orlando Heart Ball
March 30, 2019
Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
Business, medical, and other community leaders unite to celebrate the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association. Don't miss this unforgettable evening of inspiration, entertainment, and hope as we build a healthier Orlando!
Get involved
Email us for more information on givingWhy I Support the AHA
“The work of the American Heart Association universally helps people from all walks of life and economic situations improve their daily lives. It brings me great pleasure to know that my volunteer and financial support efforts with the AHA over the past decade are helping to break the silence about the devastating impact heart disease and stroke is having on our families and our communities.”
–Martin Davis, an American Heart Association donor
Contact us
Local Leadership
Orlando Board of Directors
Board Chair
David Cross
Senior Vice President, U.S. Trust
Bank of America Private Wealth Management
Board President
Dr. Gul Dadlani
Chief of Pediatric Cardiology
Nemours Children's Hospital
Immediate Past Chair
Marlin Hutchens
CEO
ISOD
Immediate Past President
Dr. Swathy Kolli
Internal Medicine, Cardiology & Echocardiography
Members
Dr. Duane Davis
Director Cardiovascular Institute & Lung Transplant
David Dominato
Sales Manager
WKMG Channel 6
Camille Evans
Attorney Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig P.A.
Dr. Ankur Garg
Neurologist
Osceola Regional Medical Center
Dr. Jesus Jara
Deputy Superintendent
Orange County Public Schools
Maritza Martinez
Associate Vice President
University of Central Florida
Jon Reitz
Regional Vice President
Walgreens
Wayne Rich
Of Counsel
Broad and Cassel
Eric Stevens
Sr. Executive Officer/Administrator
Florida Hospital
Sarabpreet Khara
VP Neuroscience & Interventional Labs
Osceola Regional Medical Center
Rich Wales
Deputy Chief
City of Orlando Fire Department
Jayne Willis
Chief Nursing Officer
Orlando Regional Medical Center
